Here's the backstory behind the numerous calls at today's budget hearing for funding a state suicide prevention hotline: Idaho's previous hotline closed at the end of 2006 for lack of funding. Since then, various locally funded hotlines around the country have volunteered to temporarily take Idaho calls; currently, Idaho calls are being answered by a locally funded community hotline in Oregon. However, they have less access to local referrals in Idaho to help callers, and funding there is becoming a problem. Meanwhile, news stats, based on 2009 data - the most recent - came out this week showing that Idaho's suicide rate has jumped up to fourth in the nation/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here. (Wikipedia photo of suicide prevention photo of Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif.)

Question: Wouldn't Idaho have a high suicide rate even it if had a suicide prevention hotline?